Cellphone seized in voyeurism case

A man allegedly filmed up a woman's skirt in a grocery store in south Everett.

EVERETT -- The man set his cellphone to record video.Then he set the phone in his shopping basket at the Walmart along Evergreen Way in south Everett.He walked behind another shopper, the basket tilted underneath her denim skirt.The man then walked into another aisle, set down the basket and left the store, checking his phone.A loss prevention employee saw it happen. She called police.The man, 34, of Edmonds, is under investigation for voyeurism in connection with the Nov. 26 incident. His phone was seized that day by Everett detectives, who also notified the victim. She was unaware of what happened, according to court papers.Detectives obtained a judge's permission to search the phone in December. Forensic techniques can reveal hidden or deleted video content within cell phones.The case is ongoing, said Everett police Sgt. Chip Higinbotham, who leads the Special Assault Unit, which handles sex crimes. The investigation eventually will be forwarded to prosecutors for review, he said.The man reportedly told detectives that he heard about how to film up-skirt videos and wanted to try it. He told them he had "chickened out" and not made the recording because he felt guilty, police wrote in court papers.The man has no known significant criminal history. Voyeurism is a felony under state law.Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com

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